Automatic reloading apparatus and shotgun shell drive means therefor

ABSTRACT

Automatic shotgun shell reloading apparatus and drive means therefor, wherein a shell reloading apparatus having plural sequential reloading stages is driven by operation of an electric motor one-half rotation at a time to give up and down movements to the operating lever of the shell reloading apparatus.

Unite tates Patent 1191 Griffin 1 1 May 15, 1973 154] AUTOMATICRELOADING 3,l57,086 11/1964 Bachhuber ..86/27 3,336,829 8/l967 Lee..86/23 APPARATUS AND SHOTGUN SHELL DRIVE MEANS THEREFOR lnventor: TommyK. Griffin, 539 Hidden Valley Drive, Houston, Tex. 77037 Filed: May 5,1971 Appl. No.: 140,486

' Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant ExaminerHarold TudorAttorney-Carl B. Fox,Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT Automatic shotgun shell reloading apparatus and drivemeans therefor, wherein a shell reloading apparatus having pluralsequential reloading stages is driven by operation of an electric motorone-half rotation at a time to give up and down movements to theoperating lever of the shell reloading apparatus.

4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure AUTOMATIC RELOADING APPARATUS AND SHOTGUNSHELL DRIVE MEANS THEREFOR SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In shotgun shellreloading apparatus for home and small shop use, the apparatuses areconventionally operated by hand, by moving an actuating lever or handledownwardly and upwardly to sequentially perform each of a series ofsteps required for reloading of a shell. The stages or steps ofreloading of shotgun shells may differ from apparatus to apparatus, notonly in the number of stages required for reloading of a shell, but alsoin the accomodations of the stages into groups. A rod connected to theoperating lever or handle of the shell reloading apparatus is connectedto a circularly rotatable arm carried on the shaft of an electric drivemotor. The electric drive motor is controlled to rotate one-halfrotation at a time by a novelly arranged microswitch having a curvedcontact which is engaged by a contact on the rotating arm over 180 ofmovement, the rotating arm being moved over the length of the curvedcontact for its downward stroke or movement, and then moved through theother half of a circle between the ends of the contact for the upwardstroke or movement. A control switch is preferably actuated by a foot ofthe user, the pressure of the control switch causing downward halfcircle rotation of the rotating arm and release of the control switchcausing upward half-circle movement of the rotating arm. At the top ofthe stroke, the pivotal arm does not move further until such time as thecontrol switch is again depressed. The upward and downward rotating armmovements cause upward and downward movements of the lever or the crankof the shell reloading apparatus to cause it to operate at each of itssequential reloading stages. An empty shotgun shell casing is movedsequentially to a plurality of stages of the shell reloading apparatusto complete the reloading. For example, the following steps or stages ofshell reloading may be provided in the apparatus: First, the old primeris punched off of the shell casing and the shell casing is resized; at asecond stage, a new primer is inserted into the head of the shellcasing; in the third stage, powder, wad and shot are placed into theshell casing; in the fourth stage, a crimp of the shell casing end isstarted; and in the fifth and final stage the crimp of the end of theshell casing is completed. As has been stated, the steps and stepcombinations may be altered somewhat from one type of shell reloadingmachine to another, but all such machines are operated by providingreloading steps or stages and each stage is operated by a downward pulland return upward of a crank or handle.

An advantage of use of shell reloading apparatus having an automaticdrive as herein disclosed is that the stages are operated more rapidlyand in addition are operated more uniformly. With hand cranking of theapparatus, differing speeds and pressures are applied which make thereloading of shells somewhat nonuniform. Using the apparatus as hereindescribed, each stage of each cycle of operation of the shell reloadingapparatus is the same as others, and the reloaded shells are entirelyuniform and of consistant performance. Each shell is passed through theplural stages or steps, and the same pressure and timing of theoperating tools is obtained for each stroke, so that extreme uniformityof the shells and consistency of performance thereof is achieved.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of apparatus,reference during the description being made to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWING The drawing is a side elevational viewof a preferred embodiment of apparatus according to the invention, andincludes a schematic electrical circuit showing for the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing indetail, a standard commercial shell reloading apparatus is referred toby reference numeral 10. Such apparatuses, from make to make, will varyas to design and structure, but all machines of this type function ingenerally the same manner and are operated by pulling down on anoperating crank or lever 11, which is then returned upwardly by hand orby a compression spring 12. Apparatus 10 is shown schematically in thedrawing, and the exact form of apparatus 10 is not intended to limit theinvention.

Apparatus 10 has five operating stages which work on a shell casing asit is moved to each stage sequentially during reloading, the stages orsteps being used in sequence for each shell to be reloaded. Apparatus 10has five such stages, but the number of stages in other machines may bedifferent than five. The shell casing is placed at circularly spacedplural locations upon a base plate 14, the location being indicated byreference numerals l6-20, stages 16, 17 being behind stages 20, 19,respectively, as shown in the drawing. The five tools 21-25 are disposeddirectly vertically above the five locations or stations 16-20,respectively. When the operating head 29 of the apparatus is moveddownwardly to position 29a, the tools apprach their respective stationson base plate 14, and a reloading step is performed on a shell at eachlocation (or locations) at which a shell casing is located. For example,tool 21 above shell position 16 maybe a punch for removing a used primerfrom the head of a shell casing and for resizing of the shell casing;tool 22 above position 17 may be a repriming stage wherein a new primeis inserted into the head of the shell casing; tool 23 above position 18may be a tool for reloading the shell with powder, and wherein a new wadand shot are placed within the shell casing; tool 24 above reloadingposition 19 may be a tool to commence crimping of the upper end of theshell casing; and tool 25 above position 20 may be a tool for completingthe crimp started by tool 24.

Head 29 receives therethrough a shaft 32 about which spring 12 ishelically disposed. Shaft 32 has at its upper end a stationary fitting34 to which crank handle 11 is pivotally connected. Crank 11 is angularas shown in the drawing, the portion 11a being nearly horizontal whenthe handle is in up position and being moved downwardly to a nearlyvertical position when the handle is moved down. A link 36 is pivotallypinned to handle 11 at the bend thereof, the inner lower end of link 36being pivotally connected to operating head 29. When handle 11 is pulled.down link 36 moves downward angularly to a more nearly verticalposition and forces operating head 29 downwardly against the upward biasof spring 12. When handle 11 is raised to its up" position, theoperating head is returned upwardly. The downwardly moved positions ofthe handle 11 and link 36 are indicated by dashed line positions 11b,36a in the drawing.

An electric motor 40 has a shaft 41 through which a rotating arm 42 issecured at one of its ends by tightening screw 43 disposed across shapedslot 44. A plate 45 mounted on the end of motor 40 carries a microswitch48. The contact arm 51 of the microswitch is flat and elongated andresilient, and is twisted at 52 so that its flat surfaces are disposedinwardly and outwardly, and is curved downwardly to extend increasinglyclose to shaft 41, as shown. Rotating arm 42 has a laterally extendingcontact pin 54 which is in contact with the inner surface of contact arm51 as rotating arm 42 is rotated 180, a half circle, by motor 40. Inother words, pin 54 contacts the underside of contact arm 51 onclockwise rotation from the position of arm 42 shown in the drawing forone'half circle to the dashed line position 42a disposed downwardly.During the other half circle of rotation of arm 42, the pin 54 is not incontact with contact arm 51.

Motor 40 may be, for example, a Von Wies brake gear-motor, model VW8,30rpm, 1/10 horse power, shaded-pole motor. Other equivalent motors orother motors having similar operating characteristics may be employed inplace of the motor 40 specifically described.

Referring now to the electrical circuit for ,use in connection with theapparatus, an electrical power source indicated by terminals 60, 61 isconnected by conductors 62, 63. Switch 48 is a two position switch, thecontact arm 51 being pivotally moved from its normal position 51a to itspivotally moved position 51 by movement by pin 54 of rotating arm 42.Pin 54 contacts the upper part of contact 51 and slides downwardlyaround to the right to its downward position along the length of contact51, thereby forcing contact 51 outwardly. A floor switch 68 havingoperating actuator 69 is a two position switch, the upper normallyclosed position 70 being indicated in the drawings. Upon depression ofactuator 69 the contact is moved to position 70a.

For the downstroke movement of arm 42, commenc- I ing with arm 42 upwardas shown by solid lines in the drawing and with pin 54 in contact withthe underside of contact arm 51, depression of footswitch actuator 69causes electrical current flow through conductor 62, arm 51 (in itsposition 51) conductor 72, the footswitch contact in position 70a,conductor 73, solenoid coil 75, and conductor 63, to close the solenoidswitch 75a to cause motor 40 to operate. When pin 54 leaves the lowerend of contact arm 51 the motor is shut off. Upon release of footswitchactuator 69, motor 40 is again energized to operate, to move arm 42 inits upstroke movement, through conductor 62, arm 51 in position Slla,conductor 76, the footswitch contact in position 70, conductor 73,solenoid coil 75, and conductor 63. When pin 54 again contacts contactarm 51, motor 40 is shut off.

It will be perceived that the handle 11 of apparatus is pulleddownwardly by connecting rod 80 when motor 40 is operating with pin 54in contact with contact 5]. It will also be clear that the connectingrod 80 will be moved upwardly when motor 40 is operating with pin 54 outof contact with contact 51. Therefore, according to the electricalcircuit shown in the drawing, motor 41 operates to move rotating arm 42around to the right from its upward position to its downward positionwhen actuator 69 is depressed, and operates to move rotating arm 42around to the left and upward to its upright position when actuator 69is released. Then the motor does not operate again until such time asactuator 69 is again depressed.

Connecting rod is bent to L-shape at its lower end, the end being passedthrough an opening in rotating arm 42, the bent end of rod 80 beingindicated by reference numeral 8021. At its upper end, a collar 83 isfixed to connecting rod 80, there being a helical compression spring 84above collar 83. A slidable washer 85 is disposed above spring 84. Aconnector pin 87 is laterally drilled to receive rod 80 therethrough, anend of pin 87 being pivotally connected through an opening throughhandle 11. A helical compression spring 89 is disposed above a slidablewasher 90, and the upper end of rod 80 is threaded at 92 and nut 93 isscrewed thereon. Screwing nut 93 downwardly tightens the compressions ofthe springs 84, 89 while turning of nut 93 upwardly decreases the springtensions. Therefore, pin 87 engaged with handle 11 provides a cushionedconnection which may be adjusted so that the extent and force ofdownward and upward movement of the handle may be accomplished. Thisconnection may be eliminated from the apparatus herein disclosed ifdesired; however, its provision provides that the operation of the shellreloading apparatus may be adjustable and prevent shock and strain onthe shell reloading apparatus.

in summary, a shell is reloaded by moving the shell casing throughpositions 16-20, whereupon each of the tools 21-25 acts thereon, insequence, to reload the shell. The shell casing is moved manually fromone position to another of positions 16-20. However, a rotating base 14may be provided which will sequentially rotate to the five differentpositions if such is desired. All that is necessary to reload a shotgunshell is to move the shell casing first to position 16, in whichposition the foot actuator 69 is pressed downwardly and then released.This causes rod 80 to move first downwardly and then upwardly to operatehandle 11 downwardly and then upwardly. This cycle of handle operationis performed at each of the five reloading stations, until the shellbecomes fully reloaded and ready for use. If desired, a plurality ofshell casings may be moved one after the other to the five positions sothat five shell casings may be worked upon at each operation of theactuator. Usually, however, since with this actuator such little timeand effort is required to reload a shell it is generally preferred thatone shell at a time be passed through the apparatus.

Pistol and rifle cartridges and generally all typesof shells andcartridges may be reloaded using the apparatus.

While Preferred embodiments of the apparatus have been described andshown in the drawing, many modifications thereof may be made by a personskilled in the arts without departing from the spirit of the invention,and it is intended to protect by Letters Patent all forms of theinvention falling within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. Apparatus for operating a shell reloader of the type having anoperating handle which is pulled downwardly and then returned upwardlyto cause performance of a single reloading step of a series of reloadingsteps, the shell being moved to a different position for each reloadingstep, comprising an electric drive motor, an arm extending outwardlyfrom the shaft of said drive motor, link means connected at one end toan outward point of said arm and connected at the other end to saidoperating handle whereby a first halfrotation of said drive motor pullssaid operating handle downwardly and a second half-rotation of saiddrive motor returns said operating handle upwardly, and control meansfor operating said drive motor to rotate stepwise by a firsthalf-rotation and then a second halfrotation to operate said shellreloader through one reloading step of said series of reloading steps.

2. The combination of claim 1, said control means comprising firstelectrical contact means carried by said arm, second electrical contactarm means arcuately disposed for contact by said first electricalcontact means through one-half rotation of said arm and ioned wherebyshock to said reload er is eliminated.

1. Apparatus for operating a shell reloader of the type having anoperating handle which is pulled downwardly and then returned upwardlyto cause performance of a single reloading step of a series of reloadingsteps, the shell being moved to a different position for each reloadingstep, comprising an electric drive motor, an arm extending outwardlyfrom the shaft of said drive motor, link means connected at one end toan outward point of said arm and connected at the other end to saidoperating handle whereby a first half-rotation of said drive motor pullssaid operating handle downwardly and a second half-rotation of saiddrive motor returns said operating handle upwardly, and control meansfor operating said drive motor to rotate stepwise by a firsthalf-rotation and then a second half-rotation to operate said shellreloader through one reloading step of said series of reloading steps.2. The combination of claim 1, said control means comprising firstelectrical contact means carried by said arm, second electrical contactarm means arcuately disposed for contact by said first electricalcontact means through one-half rotation of said arm and motor.
 3. Thecombination of claim 2, including electrical switch means forcontrolling rotations of said drive motor, said drive motor beingoperated to rotate said first half-rotation when said switch means isdepressed and said drive motor being operated to rotate said secondhalf-rotation when said switch means is released, whereby depression andrelease of said switch means causes performance of one reloading step ofsaid series of reloading steps.
 4. The combination of claim 1, theconnection of said link means to said operating handle being springcushioned whereby shock to said reloader is eliminated.